GENE HELPS CELEBRATE RANDY TRAVIS’ 25th

ANNIVERSARY AT THE OPRY

October 4th, 2011 - Gene had the pleasure to

perform on the Grand Ole Opry with Randy Travis,

Connie Smith and Joe Stampley as part of Randy’s

25th Anniversary Celebration. The group performed a

song recorded for Randy’s 25th Anniversary album

title “Didn’t We Shine.” The performance was later

shown as part of an Opry TV show on GAC, Opry Live!

LEFT: Standing off stage just after their performance

are Gene, Randy Travis and Connie Smith.

AN AMERICAN IDOL

Left: (Oct. 4, 2011) Carrie Underwood stopped

backstage at the Grand Ole Opry to say hello to

Gene. Before winning the vastly popular American

Idol show, Carrie opened a show for Gene and

remembers him fondly from that. Of course Carrie

has gone on to super stardom in the country music

world with multi-platinum albums. Carrie recorded a

# 1 with Randy Travis that they sang on the Opry that

night, “I Told You So.”

HANGING OUT BACKSTAGE

Photo right: Gene’s dressing room at the Opry turned out to

be right next door to another young star, Josh Turner. Josh

was delighted to see Gene and they shared a few road stories

before both were called to go onstage. Josh Turner’s career

was kicked off by the single “Long Black Train.”

NOV/DEC. 2011 Volume 20

Birthday Greetings From The Fans

Gene enjoyed the birthday cards sent from around the world to celebrate his 68th birthday on October 11th. Left: Ms. Jean Holmes and her granddaughter, Chantelle, sent Gene the microphone award (far left) and sent in the photo (right) , taken when Gene was in England. Jean and Chantelle reside in Wirrel, England. The Microphone Award states: To Gene You’re Still Our Star of Country Music Happy Birthday

IRISH BIRTHDAY WISHES

Longtime Irish fan, Heather McCann, sent Gene a magnificently crafted, hand-made card for his birthday. Check out the card image (left). The card is actually 3-D and features a Chevy Truck and Gene’s Toy Shop. Gene has the most talented fans and he appreciates all of your cards and well wishes!

From the Country Family Reunion Taping Above Photo Left: Con Hunley, Bill Anderson and Gene. Photo Right:

Before the taping, Gene and Rhonda Vincent chat about an upcoming show while Barbara Fairchild and Jim Ed Brown check

out the stage. Directly behind Rhonda (in sunglasses) is Christian recording artist and piano man, Gordon Mote.

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The Gene Watson Fan Forum

(http://genewatsonfans.proboards.com)

Photo right: Sally Bedow, an administrator of the fan chat board made

the trip to Lovelady, TX to present Gene with a beautifully bound book

with linen paper full of personal birthday messages from fans on the

forum. Gene was delighted with the gift and Sally made a second copy

which will be presented to the Country Music Hall of Fame at a later

date. Check out the fan forum to talk about all things related to Gene

Watson!

FAN SPOTLIGHT ON SHERRY SHAVER TOUCHSTONE

Where do you live?

I live in Arapaho, Oklahoma, a small town of about 850 people. I grew up in Garden City, Kansas and moved to

Oklahoma in 1970.

Tell us about your family.

I met my husband to be, Charles, on a blind date and we were married in 1972. We have two children and four

wonderful grandchildren, Lexy, Brayden, Trace and Keeley .

What type of work have you done?

In 1996 I bought a clothing consignment shop and named it, Sherry’s New and Nearly New. We carry high end

clothing and accessories. I also am an AVON Representative selling AVON products since 1996. Charles has been a

beekeeper since 1980. He is a retired water plant superintendent and an avid gardener.

Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy photography and traveling. We often pick a direction and spend the afternoon driving around sight seeing.

Going to Gene Watson concerts is my favorite pastime. Charles and my sister Tina are my traveling companions. If

one can’t go, the other will. We have seen Gene and the Farewell Party Band in, Kansas , Texas , Florida , Arkansas

and of course Oklahoma . We have made lots of, “Gene friends” over the years at concerts and on Facebook.

When did you first become a Gene Watson fan?

I became a Gene Watson fan the first time I heard: “Love in the Hot Afternoon”. My first concert was in Muskogee

, OK . I have seen Gene in concert about twenty times and I’m not done yet! That is when I started collecting Gene’s

albums and CD’s and I have everyone he has made. Many of them I bought on eBay. The self-titled, sealed album:

“Gene Watson” was the one I fought hardest for, and I won. I sent a message to the party bidding against me and

found out he was a cousin to Gene. I bought an LP to CD copier and have all the vinyl albums on CD’s.

What are your favorite Gene Watson songs?

My favorite Gene Watson songs, other than the biggest hits are: “Winds of Change”, “Most of all Why”, “Change

Her Mind”, “Maybe I Should’ve Been Listening” and “From Cotton to Satin”.

Do you have a favorite concert location? The last five years we have traveled to Paris , TX , to see the home town

concert Gene and the Farewell Party band do at the county fair. The stage is outdoors under the stars with many

family, friends and fans there to enjoy the show.

I am looking forward to making many more “Gene Friends” in the coming months and years.

Photo Left: Charles and Sherry Touchstone took this photo with

Gene at the Chickasha, Oklahoma show this year.

Thank you Sherry for being our special

fan this month!!

Page 3

Page 4 A MESSAGE FROM GENE

Dear Friends - It’s hard to believe it’s the Holiday

season already. In the USA we’ll be enjoying a

Thanksgiving turkey this week and then it’s

Christmas before you know it. It’s always a time

for me to give thanks for having such wonderful

friends, family and the greatest fans on earth. It

was a good year for the music as well. I enjoyed

recording and releasing the duets album “Your

Money and My Good Looks” with Rhonda Vincent

and we’ve had a lot of fun working together on

the road. Also, it has been a pleasure recording

my Greatest Hits which I hope to release

sometime in February. I’m sure many of you have

seen the Country Family Reunion shows this year

on TV or on video and those are special occasions

for me. Those are such fun days and I hope there

are many more to come. Thank you for

continuing to come to the shows and I do

appreciate your emails and comments on

Facebook and the website. It’s always great to

hear from you,

AND THE WINNER IS…..

Congratulations to Phyllis Prather of Georgia

who correctly answered the question: What

song did Gene co- write on his "Back in the

Fire" album? Answer: "Somewhere Over

You”

The winning name is randomly drawn from all

correct entries.

For your chance to win an autographed Tee Shirt, just answer the question sent to Fan Club Members only , then email the correct response to: GENEWATSONMUSIC@HOTMAIL.com If you’re reading this and not a registered member of the free fan club, just sign up at www.genewatsonmusic.com! Only fan club members get the Trivia Contest Questions!

GENE’S TOUR DATES Nov. 26 Tin Hall Cypress, TX Nov. 29 Grand Ole Opry Nashville, TN Dec. 9 Del E. Webb Center Wickenburg, AZ Dec. 31 Coupland Dance Hall Coupland, TX

2012 Jan. 1 Black Gold Casino Hobbs, NM Jan. 6 Cypress Bayou Casino Charenton, LA Jan. 13 Cajun Cowboy Omaha, TX Jan. 16-22 CFR Cruise www.CFRcruise.com Jan. 27 Greenwood PAC Greenwood, AR Feb. 15 Florida State Fair Tampa, FL Feb. 18 Stagecoach Ft. Worth, TX Feb. 25 Orange Blossom Opry Weirsdale, FL Feb. 26 Port Charlotte Center Port Charlotte, FL March 3 Sugar Creek Casino Hinton, OK March 24 Ross Country Jamboree Scottsburg, IN May 3 Effingham PAC Effingham, IL

GUITAR HERO

Gene was one happy guy Sunday Nov. 20th at the Bristol, TN show when he was surprised onstage by recording artist Nathan Stanley, grandson of country legend, Ralph Stanley. Nathan gave Gene a custom made Murphy guitar which features Gene’s name in laid on the neck in Mother of Pearl and has Nathan’s name inscribed on the guitar also. Gene is a collector of guitars and you can see the smile on his face as he received this amazing gift from his friend, Nathan. Check out more on Nathan here: Nathan Stanley's Official Website

CONTACT US

To book a Gene Watson concert, contact Carrie Moore-Reed Email: Carrie@ThirdCoastTalent.com Phone: (615) 685-3331 Email Gene: Artist@Lytlemgmt.com

www.GeneWatsonMusic.com ; www.Gene-Watson.com Follow Gene : www.Facebook.com/GeneWatsonMusic YouTube: www.YouTube.com/GeneWatsonVideos